Fan

ABSTRACT

A fan assembly includes a fan and a screen. The fan includes a bracket, and an impeller installed in the bracket. The bracket includes two opposite sidewalls each defining an opening aligning with the impeller. A hollow fixing frame is mounted to an outer surface of one of the sidewalls surrounding four sides of the corresponding opening. The fixing frame includes a receiving portion surrounding three of the four sides of the opening, and a cover detachably connected to distal ends of the receiving portion, to surround the last side of the opening. The screen is received in the fixing frame and aligns with the openings.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a fan.

2. Description of Related Art

Fans are generally installed in an electronic device, to dissipate heat for the electronic device. A finger guard or a dust filter is always mounted to a side of each fan through a plurality of plastic screws. However, these plastic screws are usually small and difficult to handle, and the installation of the finger guard or dust filter to the fans is labor-intensive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawing, all the views are schematic, and like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a fan.

FIG. 2 is an assembled, isometric view of the fan of FIG. 1, together with a dust filter.

FIG. 3 is an assembled, isometric view of the fan of FIG. 1, together with a finger guard.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a fan including a main body 10 and a hollow fixing frame 20.

The main body 10 includes a bracket 12 and an impeller 14 installed in the bracket 12. The bracket 12 includes two opposite sidewalls 121. An opening 123 is defined in each sidewall 121, aligning with the impeller 14.

The fixing frame 20 is mounted to an outer surface of one of the sidewalls 121. The fixing frame 20 includes a receiving portion 22 surrounding the bottom and two opposite sides of the opening 123 of the sidewall 121, and a cover 24 detachably covered on the top of the receiving portion 22. The receiving portion 22 includes two arms 221 respectively at the opposite sides of the opening 123, and a bottom plate 223 connected between the bottom ends of the arms 221 below the opening 123. A longitudinally extending recess 225 is defined in an inner surface of each arm 221 adjoining the main body 10. The top end of each arm 221 is higher than the opening 123 and lower than the top of the sidewall 121. A latching slot 227 is defined in the top end of the inner surface of each arm 221. The cover 24 includes an elongated plate 243, and two blocks 241 respectively extending down from opposite ends of the bottom of the plate 243.

Referring to FIG. 2, to assemble a first screen, such as a dust filter 40 to the fan, opposite sides of the dust filter 40 are respectively inserted into the recesses 225 from the top ends of the arms 221. The dust filter 40 is slid down along the recesses 225, until the bottom end of the dust filter 40 abuts against the bottom plate 223. The blocks 241 are respectively engaged in the latching slots 227. Thereby, the cover 24 is covered on the top of the receiving portion 22, parallel to the bottom plate 223, with opposite ends of the cover 24 respectively supported on the top ends of the arms 221.

Referring to FIG. 3, to assemble a second screen, such as a finger guard 30 to the fan, the cover 24 is detached from the receiving portion 22, and the dust filter 40 is pulled out of the receiving portion 22 along the recesses 225. Opposite sides of the finger guard 30 are respectively inserted into the recesses 225 from the top ends of the arms 221. The finger guard 30 is slid down along the recesses 225, until the bottom side of the finger guard 30 abuts against the bottom plate 223. The blocks 241 are respectively engaged in the latching slots 227. Thereby, the cover 24 is covered on the top of the receiving portion 22.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and the functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the embodiments to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fan, comprising: a main body comprising a bracket and an impeller installed in the bracket, the bracket comprising two opposite sidewalls each defining an opening aligning with the impeller; and a hollow fixing frame mounted to an outer surface of one of the two sidewalls, the fixing frame comprising a receiving portion surrounding a bottom and two opposite sides of the opening of the sidewall, and a cover detachably covered on a top of the receiving portion.
 2. The fan of claim 1, wherein the receiving portion comprises two arms respectively at opposite sides of the opening, and a bottom plate connected between bottom ends of the arms below the opening, a longitudinally extending recess is defined in an inner surface of each arm facing the opposite arm.
 3. The fan of claim 2, wherein a top end of each arm is higher than the opening and lower than a top of the sidewall, the cover is covered on the top ends of the arms, parallel to the bottom plate.
 4. The fan of claim 3, wherein a latching slot is defined in a top of the inner surface of each arm, the cover comprises an elongated plate, and two blocks respectively extending down from opposite ends of a bottom of the plate, to respectively engage in the latching slots of the arms.
 5. A fan assembly, comprising: a fan comprising a bracket, and an impeller installed in the bracket, the bracket comprising two opposite sidewalls each defining an opening aligning with the impeller, wherein a hollow fixing frame is mounted to an outer surface of one of the sidewalls surrounding four sides of the corresponding opening, the fixing frame comprises a receiving portion surrounding three of said four sides of the opening, and a cover detachably connected to distal ends of the receiving portion, to surround the last side of the opening; and a screen received in the fixing frame and aligning with the openings.
 6. The fan assembly of claim 5, wherein the receiving portion comprises two arms respectively at opposite sides of the opening, and a bottom plate connected between first ends of the arms, a longitudinally extending recess is defined in an inner surface of each arm facing the opposite arm.
 7. The fan assembly of claim 6, wherein the cover is detachably connected to second ends of the arms away from the first ends, and parallel to the bottom plate.
 8. The fan assembly of claim 7, wherein a latching slot is defined in the inner surface of the second end of each arm, the cover comprises an elongated plate, and two blocks respectively extending from opposite ends of the plate, to respectively engage in the latching slots of the arms.
 9. The fan assembly of claim 5, wherein the screen is a dust filter.
 10. The fan assembly of claim 5, wherein the screen is a finger guard. 